Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-23
THE B0WLD S0JER BOYS
GATHERING FOR THE BIG MUSTER AT
THE CAPITAL CITY.

Programme of Two Weeks Military Com
petitiOn-The Two Big Days and the
Sporting News-The Ball Record-Irish
Pat Wins Two Races in One Day.
WASHINGTON CITY, NAV 23.-Among the
crack companies of state troops which had ar
rived here Sunday night to take part in the
national drill, which opened Monday, were
the Louisiana Rifles, the Vicksburg Southrons,
San Antonio Rifles, the Aurora IN. " Rifles,
the Peekskill Cadets and the Muscatine Qowa)
Rifles A Thousand tents whiten the green
sward that stretches out around the Washing
ton Monument Such a camp has not been
seen i'll this country since the veterans of the
civil war broke their last camp in 1865. Every
train arriving brings many visitors to the
city, and great influx of excurslonists is ex-
pected The preparations are completed. The
grand stand will accommodate more than 20,
900 people
Camp George Washington was practi-
cally open Sunday, and the troops, as they
arrive, are assigned quarters, SO the routine
of camp life has begun. On Monday morning
Gen Augur commandment of the camp, as
sumed personal command. On Tuesday the
contests for prizes will be inaug,lrated Gen.
Augur said Saturday that he thought there
was every prospect that the drill would be
great success He proposed to go into camp
personally and live there with the troops until
the close of the drill.
The programme will be as follows: Compe-
titions in drill between the infantry compa-
.
Zouaves meet to compete at gro p. M. exhi-
bition drill at O'Clock, and dress parade an
hour later, The artillery drill will be given
at the athletic park.
Wednesday will he devoted to parades and
reviews in the morning and competitive drills
in the afternoon, and a formal dress parade at
5 O'clock
Thursday the infantry companies will drill
for prizes between 10 a IN. and 2 p. m, and a
very interesting contest is anticipated. The
zouaves will contest Immediately after the in
fantry competition, and they will be followed
at p m. by individual competitors for
preference in the manual of arms
Friday the infantry competitions and those
of the battalion, succeeded as usual by dress
parades, will lie the order of the day, and on
Saturday the interesting feature of the occa
sion will lie the competitive drill of the cadets
who have enlisted their service in the meet
ing.
On Sunday there will be religious services
and dress parade. Monday, street parade,
exhibition drills and dress parade. Artillery
drills Tuesday and Thursday. Rife practice
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Wednesday, the 25th, and Monday, the
30th Decoration Dayl, will be the two great
days of the camp in popular estimation
Wednesday will be governors day, on which
day the governors of the several states, with
their staifs, will surround the president on a
grand stand in front of the White House and
review the troops in camp
Decoration Day the soldiers in camp will
be invited to join the procession to Arlington
to Join with the Grand Army of the Republic
in the exercises of the day In the afternoon
of that day the prizes and trophies, the flags
and stand of colors the medals and cash pre-
miums will be presented by the president to
the commands judged to have been the most
skilled in drill Next there viii be religious
services in camp, and Rev. De Witt Talmage,
the famous Brooklyn divine, will preach to
| the soldiers
The prizes are the largest ever offered, and
| in the aggregate amount to $4,000, with
other souvenir trophies The broad acres of
the monument grounds have been assigned to
| furnish quarters for the visiting regiments
and battalionS, and every appointment has
| been perfected to convenience the outfit on
the tented field, and also throughout the
| city.
Final arrangements have been made for the
great billiard match between William Sexton
| and Maurice DAILY, for the championship of
the world and purse of $1,000 which is to
be played in the light infantry armory. The
GONE Is to be / 500 points, cushion caroms and
will be played each night of the present week,
beginning at O'Clock The play each night
will end when either of the contestants makes
| 300 points The rules governing the game
| will be those of the last COllender cushion
carom tournament for the championship, with
the exception that to insure count the cue
| ball must hit cushion before hitting the sec
! Oud object ball